Designating device



July 18, 1933. M. SHERAS DESIGNATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 1, 1930 Jforris Sheras Patented July 18, 1933 UNITED STATES MORRIS SHERAS, or MANISTEE, MICHIGAN,

nnsieivnrme DEVICE Application filed December 1, 1930. Serial No. 499,301.

This invention relates to improvements in designating devices, and is more particularly concerned with astreet or road crossing sign.

An object of this invention is to provide a designating device comprising several rigidly held permanent sign board members and adapted to be readily assembled and disassembled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a designating device with facilites for passing off rain and melting snow which collect upon the device due to its exposure to the elements.

A feature of the invention is the provision of improved means for holding the sign boards rigidly together both when incorporated in the designating device and while awaiting assembly. 1

Other objects and purposes will appear in the course of the following description.

Heretofore,in designating devices for outdoor use, trouble has been experienced with weathering, rust and other conditions caused by the elements. Wherever bolts or screws were used, rust occurred. 'Ends and other exposed edges and surfaces soon took on a weather-beaten appearance and water collecting on the flat surfaces remained until evaporated, thus hastening oxidation.

The present inventiondoes away with these troubles by providing a construction in which no bolts or screws are required, in which no; ends are exposed, and in which any water collected is passed to thecentral pole and carried off to the ground.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the details thereof, as the invention is suscep- 40 tible to alternative constructions within the scope of the appended claims.

' In the drawing: 7

Fig. 1 represents a side View of the designating device showing an end of one pair of 4 sign board members and the face of one member of another pair;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the center of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4 and 5 represents complementary locking devices for holding the sign board members fixedly at an angle to each other;

Fig. 6 represents a rear'view at the end. of one of the sign board members;

Fig. 7 is a side View of the end clamp for the sign board membersgand Fig. 8 is a face view of said clamp.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there are positioned upon the central pole 15, two sign boards 16 and 17. The central pole is shown as being round, but if desired, it may be made square or of other cross section. The sign board 16 is disposed at an angle to sign board 17 corresponding to the angle of intersecting streets, the device of this invention being especially useful as a street corner sign. Any desired number of sign boardsmay be mounted upon the pole and they may be disposed at a variety of angles to each other.

Each of the sign boards 16 and 17 constitutes an assembly of elements consisting of two base plates 20, two face plates 21 and two end clamps 31.

The base plates 20 have reinforcing ribs 7 22 and the face plates 21 embossed lettering and longitudinal flanges 21a and in these respects and in adaptability to slidably en gage each other for assembly they are as disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 298,804, filed August 11, 1928.

' As a part of the present invention I present a new and improved method of forming the ends of the face and base plates to hold them rigidly together. r

The base and face plates are formed from flat strips of metal of equal length with the exception that at either end the base plates carry projecting flanges 23.

As shown in Fig. 6, the ends of each assembly of base and face plates are bent in wardly at approximately 90 degrees, with the flanges 23 bent to 180 degrees. The assembled units 30 are arranged in pairs, back to back, so that the flanges 23 come together to form bearings 25. The units are held together by end clamps 3 1.

Each clamp 31 consists of a metal strip curved longitudinally to conform to the ends of the assembled elements 30 and having per- 1 pendicular flanges 32 at both of its ends and tongues 32a, the tongues being adapted to be bent inwardly over the tops and bottoms of the ends of the plate units to hold them to gether. As shown in Fig. 7 a strengthening rib or groove 34 in the body of the clamp adds rigidity thereto, and the tongue 32a is grooved so that when it is turned downward it will fit into the connecting curved ends of the board members. The tongue is of such length as to contact with and form a stopfor the bearing 25, thus preventing relative circumferential movement between the-ends of the connected sign board members.

In Figs. 4 and 5 are shown the improved interlocking connecting devices 40 and 41 which are adapted to hold the assembled units of each sign board rigidly spaced apart from each other and to hold the sign boards 16 and: 17 upon the pole 15 at any desired angle toeach other.

The locking member 40 is substantially 1 U-shaped in cross sections having a bottom sloping toward the center, and for its sides, longitudinal aprons. 42 which are spaced apart slightly more than the distance betweenthe exteriors of the face plates of each of the sign boards. Closingeach end of the locking 1nember40 is a flange 43 which is slightly less in Widththan the distance between the flanges 21a ofitwo assembled sign board units. The openings 44 at either side of the flanges 43 consequently are, just wide enough to receive the lower edges of the sign board units and by this means the plates are rigidly supported and spaced intermediate their ends. The sloping bottom 45 of member'40 co-acting with the side aprons 42 acts as a funnel and is effective to draw off water to the central pole down which it runs to the ground. 7 a f In the center of the locking'member 40 is a hub-like section, centrally bored to fit loosely over the pole 15 and extending outwardly from which are hexagonally ar ranged projections 46.

The locking member 41 shown in Fig. 5 is similar in all respects to device41 with the exception that there are no projections. The central opening 47, 1s cut hexagonally and large enough to receive. snugly the pro ections on member 40, the interfitting of these complementary locking members being shown to best advantage in Fig. 2.

To the upper end of the pole 15 is attached a non-movable top piece which is preferably of some artistic design. The bottom surface of the top 50 is provided with hexagonal projections 51 which are adapted to fit into the hexagonal aperture 47 of one of the locking members 41. This will prevent the interlocked sign boards from turning around upon the pole.

' The lower end of the pole is threaded at 52. Upon this threaded portion is a screw base 53, of harmonious design. The base holds the entire device rigidly together by forcing them up against thetop piece 50. The base is held secure against turning by a lock washer-'54 and nut 55. The clamps 31 hold the sign board plates together and the locking members 40 and 41 keep the boards in fixed angular relation to each other.

Thus I provide a light, durable rigid sign structure of pleasing appearance and especially easy to assemble.

I claim: I

1. In a. designating device, the combination with plurality of sign boards, each formed of double facedplate units, and a central pole projecting through said units, of connecting devices substantially U-shaped in cross section mounted around said pole for holding said. sign board in fixed relation to each other, each of said devices having side members for engaging the outer faces of said plate units, end members for engaging the inner faces of said units and interlocking means complementary to such means on the other device.

' 2. A designating device, as specified in claim 1, in which the interlocking means con sists of an angular projection on one connect Eng device and a corresponding angular opening in the other connecting device.

3.1%. connecting device, as specified in claim 1, in which one of the connecting devices engages the lower edges of one of the plate units and has a substantially funnelshaped bottom sloping toward the pole.

MoRins 

